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Senate bill · S3805 (2025-26)

Relates to payment for rapid whole genome sequencing

Latest action May 20, 2025

Summary

Directs the commissioner of social services to authorize the payment of medical assistance funds for rapid whole genome sequencing for persons under twenty-one years of age under certain medical circumstances.

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Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Up for a vote
  4. Passed one chamber
  5. Passed
  6. Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A1977, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Social Services Law.

Committee

Health · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Health · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

Section one adds a new section 367-x to the social services law. Subdivision one of section one defines "rapid whole genome sequencing." Subdivision two requires that one year after the effective date of the section and subject to approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Medicaid commissioner shall authorize the disbursement of Medicare and Medicaid funds to patients who are under 21 years of age, have an acute illness of unknown etiology and are receiving hospital services in an intensive care unit. Subdivision three outlines evidence-based criteria on which payment provided pursuant to the new section may be based. Subdivision four authorizes the commissioner to add conditional criteria for Medicaid and Medicare payments based on new medical evidence. Subdivision five outlines the primary that the primary use of genetic data generated as a result of rapid whole genome sequencing is to assist the medical team and treat the patient, that such data is subject to HIPAA protections, and that such data may be used for research purposes with the consent of the patient or their legal guardian. Subdivision six authorizes the commissioner to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the section. Section 2 is the effective date.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

  • Vote: Committee vote · Health

    Senate HealthMay 20, 2025Result: passed

    (13) (0) (0) (1)

The sponsor's argument

Why the sponsor says this is needed

Rapid whole genome sequencing (rWGS) is an innovative method of quickly diagnosing medical conditions stemming from genetic disorders in order to treat patients in medical crises. Unlike traditional genetic testing, rWGS analyzes a person's entire DNA sequence, rather than just a few genes. This makes it especially helpful in quickly diagnosing genetic medical conditions. Genetic disorders are a leading contributor to death in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units in the United States. A University of California-San Francisco study found that when rWGS was used to treat infants suspected to have genetic diseases, 40's got a diagnosis within about a week reducing their hospital stay and resulting in changed medical care in one of three patients. Despite rWGS's dramatic promise in neonatal critical care, few hospital- ized infants undergo rWGS, oftentimes because many private and public health insurers will not cover the expense, which can cost up to $8,000. Some private health insurers, such as UnitedHealthcare and Cigna, already cover rWGS testing. But because four in ten children are covered by Medicaid in their first year of life in the United States, Medicaid coverage of rWGS would have a dramatic impact on access to rWGS and infant health. Eight state Medicaid programs have added or will soon add rWGS coverage since 2021. A 2020 analysis of proposed rWGS Medicaid coverage in Florida found that savings to the state resulting from enhanced neonatal care enabled by rWGS would far outweigh the costs. Savings were estimated to exceed $3.7 million a nearly $2.9 million return on investment. This bill would authorize the Medicaid commissioner to expand Medicaid coverage to rWGS testing when medically indicated, according to evidence-based criteria.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

  1. May 20, 2025

    Reported out of committee

    REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE

    NY Senate

  2. Jan 30, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO HEALTH

    NY Senate

About this record

Summary

The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.

Source

From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 1, 2026. About our data

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